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    <h1>
        Laos Traveller Boat Timetable</h1>
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    <br />
     <p>From 
        <a href="http://www.travelfish.org/transport/laos/northern_laos/luang_prabang/luang_prabang/all">
            TravelFish</a>...</p>
    <br />
    <h1>
        Boats</h1>
    <br />
    <p>
    <img alt="" class="magnify" height="162" src=" http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5081/5377379849_8b3d346511_z.jpg" width="194" style="float:right;"/>
        Boats are a scenic way to travel around northern Laos and a refreshing alternative
        to long, bumpy bus rides. From Luang Prabang it is possible to travel on the Nam
        Ou River to Nong Kiaow and Muang Ngoi, or up the Mekong to Huay Xai and the Thai
        border via Pakbeng. <br />
        <br />
        The upstream journey to&nbsp;<b>Nong Kiaow</b>&nbsp;takes six to eight hours, depending on
        water levels. From there, Muang Ngoi is another hour upstream and only accessible
        by boat. The journey starts with an hour or two up the Mekong then turns into the
        Nam Ou near the Pak Ou caves. If you&#39;re travelling by chartered boat, you can
        arrange a stopover at the caves en route to Nong Kiaow.<br />
        <br />
        <img alt="" class="magnify" height="282" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2409/2392509349_b3805701b5_z.jpg" width="194" style="float:right;"/>
        The Nam Ou is stunning, lined with huge limestone cliffs towering straight up out
        of the water, small white sandy beaches and patches of dark jungle forest. The route
        drifts past small riverside villages and idyllic scenes of rural life: grazing water
        buffalo, fishermen and children playing in the water and waving.<br />
        <br />
        Departing from the boat launch on Manthatoulat Road, boats to Nong Kiaow are popular
        and can be a bit cramped once everyone and backpacks are on board. The boats
        are covered to protect from rain and sun, but that&#39;s about the extent of facilities.
        &quot;Bathroom breaks&quot; mean stopping at the side of the river and you&#39;ll
        need to bring your own food and drink. There is no room on the boat to stand up
        or even stretch your legs, so if you have a small pillow use it as a cushion to
        soothe &quot;numb bum&quot; from sitting for so long. It may not be the fastest
        or most comfortable way to get to Nong Kiaow, but the beautiful scenery makes the
        trip well worth it. If purchased directly from the boat launch, a ticket costs 110,000
        kip. Alternatively, the journey downriver from Nong Kiaow only takes four hours
        and tickets cost 100,000 kip.<br />
        <br />
        <img alt="" class="magnify" height="162" src=" http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5007/5377360855_db42e2c06e_z.jpg" width="244" style="float:right;"/>
        <b>Muang Ngoi</b>&nbsp;is one hour further upstream from Nong Kiaow and boat is
        the only way to get there. The morning boat leaves at 11:00 and the afternoon boat
        leaves at 14:00 shortly after the slow boat from Luang Prabang arrives. A ticket
        for the shared boat costs 20,000 kip. Outside of this time, you will need to charter
        your own boat. We were quoted a price of 350,000 kip one-way or 600,000 kip round-trip.<br />
        <br />
        The popular border crossing between Laos and northeast Thailand is also the most
        popular river trip in Southeast Asia:&nbsp;<b>Luang Prabang to Pakbeng to Huay Xai</b>.
        There are three options for this trip: speedboat, slowboat, and luxury cruise.<br />
        <br />
        <img alt="" class="magnify" height="162" src=" http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2764/4479005114_6e052ae9fb_z.jpg" width="244" style="float:right;"/>
        The speedboat is by far the fastest and does the whole trip in about six hours:
        approximately three hours for each leg with a brief stop in Pakbeng. The ride is
        rough, noisy and environmentally unfriendly. Many people consider it to be dangerous,
        and the fact that passengers are given lifejackets and helmets does raise some worries.
        If you do decide to take it, earplugs and water-proofing your bags are a must. Speedboats
        depart at 08:00 from the pier at Ban Don outside town. It takes about 10 minutes
        to reach by a tuk tuk who will ask for at least 50,000 kip for two passengers. From
        a tour agency tickets cost 340,000 kip or, if you only want to go halfway to Pakbeng,
        it&#39;s 240,000 kip. Some agencies will include minivan transport to the pier.<br />
        <br />
        <img alt="" class="magnify" height="162" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4128/5080056654_41749c4d80_z.jpg " width="244" style="float:right;"/>
        The more popular and cheaper option is the daily &quot;backpacker ferry&quot; which
        does the trip over a leisurely two days. The boat departs from the pier near the
        Royal Museum at 08:00 and arrives in Pakbeng around 17:00. After overnighting in
        Pakbeng, the boat continues to Huay Xai at 09:00 the next morning.<br />
        <br />
        Slow boat tickets can be bought near the pier or from any tour agency in town and
        cost 130,000 kip to Pakbeng, where onward tickets can be bought for Huay Xai. There
        is no limit to the number of tickets that are sold and it can sometimes be packed
        to the rafters. The designated boat for each day varies and, as the boats are individually
        owned, the quality varies and there&#39;s no way to know which boat you&#39;ll get.
        A cushion is a solid investment.<br />
        <br />
        <i>In March 2010 the boat stopped running due to low water levels in the river. Before
            embarking in the journey, it&#39;s wise to speak to other travellers for current
            conditions and trip reports.</i><br />
        <br />
        The decadent option is to go by luxury slow boat with Luangsay for a two- or three-day
        leisure cruise. The two-day cruise departs Luang Prabang on Tuesdays, Wednesdays
        and Saturdays during the high season or Wednesdays and Saturdays from May through
        September.<br />
        <br />
        <img alt="" class="magnify" height="280" src=" http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3289/3096345359_a4695a2990_z.jpg" width="244" style="float:right;"/>
        The cruise includes all meals, coffee/tea/drinking water, accommodation in Pakbeng,
        an English-speaking guide, a tour of the Pak Ou Caves and a hilltribe village, plus
        assistance crossing the Lao/Thai border. On the overnight stop in Pakbeng, guests
        stay in teak bungalows at the luxurious Luangsay Lodge in the forest in the forest
        outside town. Prices are US$289 to $413 for twin-occupancy, depending on the season.<br />
        <br />
        The three-day option departs every Monday, Tuesday and Friday during the high season,
        and on Tuesdays and Fridays during low season from May to September. It follows
        the same route with an extra overnight stop in a Khamu village and costs $429 to
        $545. Late booking specials are sometimes available. Enquire by visiting their website
        or contacting a travel agency in Luang Prabang.<br />
        <br />
        Regular passenger ferries no longer run between Luang Prabang and Vientiane.<br />
        <br />
        <br />
        Slow Boat Telephone: (071) 252 389<br />
        <b>Nong Kiaow</b>&nbsp;Departs at 09:00, costing 110,000 kip from the pier<br />
        <b>Pak Ou Cave</b>&nbsp;Departs at 08:00, costing 70,000 kip from the pier<br />
        <b>Pakbeng</b>&nbsp;Departs at 08:30, costing 130,000 kip from the pier<br />
        <br />
        Speed Boat Telephone: (071) 212 237<br />
        <b>Huay Xay</b>&nbsp;Departs at 08:00, costing 340,000 kip<br />
        <b>Pakbeng</b>&nbsp;Departs at 08:00, costing 240,000 kip<br />
        <br />
        Luangsay Cruises<br />
        50/4 Sakkarine Rd, Ban Wat Sene, Luang Prabang.<br />
        Telephone: (071) 252 553<br />
        Fax: (071) 252 304<br />
        <a href="http://www.asian-oasis.com/" target="_blank">http://www.asian-oasis.com</a>
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